Two ‘Nashville’ Stars Reportedly Not Returning for Season 5

Nashville fans have by now heard the good news that the show will return for Season 5; however, new episodes may not include two main castmembers. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Will Chase (aka Luke Wheeler) and Aubrey Peeples (aka Layla Grant) are unlikely to return.

Sources tell THR that both Chase and Peeples are looking to move on -- but they appear to be the only ones. Talks with all other series regulars are reportedly "going well," though both Lionsgate, Nashville's production company, and CMT, its new network, would not comment.

As Wheeler, Chase first appeared on Nashville in Season 2 and was promoted to a series regular in Season 3; his character was a love interest for Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton). On Wednesday (June 22), Chase tweeted a cryptic message: "Cowboy boots: Off. Tap shoes: On. (Stay tuned)," accompanied by a winking emoji.

Peeples became a series regular in Season 4, after Grant was an often-recurring character for two seasons. She recently tweeted a black-and-white photo of herself, along with the message "Something cool coming your way soon. #AnneFrank."

Following ABC's cancellation of Nashville in mid-May, and thanks in part to fan demand, CMT picked up the show for a fifth season in early June. Nashville will be broadcast and streamed on CMT, and also streamed on Hulu, which currently carries the show’s previous seasons. Prior to ABC’s decision to cancel the show, Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz had been hired as Season 5’s showrunners.